Boaz talks about First Fruits of Zion, and particularly, what the name First Fruits of Zion really means and why this is so relevant to our message, especially today.

Update

Learn about new resources and highlights.

The Gospel Message

One of the most important concepts in Christianity is the message of the gospel. The gospel is central to our faith. It is the nucleus of what we believe. It’s what makes us believers. But is the message of the gospel what we think it is? Read this synopsis from episode 8 of the FFOZ TV show, A Promise of What is to Come.

The Place of the Skull

Most of us probably know that Jesus died at a place called Calvary, also known as Golgotha. But why was it called that? Does it have any significance beyond being merely the place name for the location of the cross? Does it symbolize something? As disciples of the man who died at Golgotha, we should probably know. Read this and find out!

Damascus Road Encounter

Christian teaching emphasizes the story of the conversion of Saul the Jew, a persecutor of the early church, into Paul the Christian, as a pattern for Jewish believers to follow. Just as Saul renounced Judaism and even changed his name to Paul, so too, Jewish believers should renounce their old allegiances and embrace their new identity in Christ. However, a careful reading of this event in its historic context tells a different story!

The Invisible God Never Hides

Every year during the celebration of Purim, the Jews read the book of Esther with purpose, intention, and community-wide participation. Even though the book of Esther never mentions God once, his invisible presence is there. Tikvah Michael shares her thoughts about the presence of God even though the Jewish people have come close to annihilation several times throughout history.

Purim Fun

The Custom of Giving Gifts at Purim—a really fun time of year for adults and kids, and here in Israel the happy atmosphere can be felt throughout the entire Hebrew month of Adar! Includes a good Hamentashen recipe.

Israel’s North

Filled with mystery and strength, Israel’s northern front holds the hearts of many Israelis. Join Shayna Michael as she wanders through this part of the land of Israel and discovers the mystery of faith in nature, history, scripture and Jewish mysticism.

The Siege of Jerusalem

Part 4 — Early Spring, 1948. Read the fourth part in this series from Pauline Rose's eyewitness account of events in Jerusalem during 1948. Pauline's first-hand accounts, her eyewitness testimony, diary notes, and letters of correspondence written in Jerusalem between 1946 and 1949 have been published in her book Siege of Jerusalem, which we now proudly present here.

Good Works!

A testimony from a teacher in Israel affected directly by a recent terrorist attack. Learn how to increase the good when you are surrounded by evil. This is a challenge faced by everyone, but especially on a national level by Israel whose people are surrounded by others who have evil intentions.

Resource Review: Vine of David Haggadah

As Passover approaches, it is now the ideal time to look into the value of the traditional Jewish seder. In a very real way, the traditional seder the Jewish community has cherished for centuries is already inherently full of messianic undertones in that it anticipates the redemption yet to come. And the Vine of David Haggadah is really traditional with interwoven selected messianic readings, ideal for your Messianic Jewish Passover.

Change Your Mind

Most of us probably already know that the word “gospel” in our New Testament is translated from a Greek word that means “good news.” So at this point it’s natural to wonder, how on earth is it “good news” that we have to repent of our sins? That sounds more like bad news. Jacob Fronczak challenges us to understand the meaning of the “good news” of the kingdom.

Disciple Detectives

The month of Adar is the month of the happy festival of Purim. Kids, have fun while you discover treasures from the Bible in stories, solving mysteries and playing word games!

Dear Avi

Answering your everyday Messianic questions. In this issue we answer a question about parenting, irritating parents, and whining children, and how to bring peace and blessing into your home.

Every year during the festival of Hanukkah, the Jewish people celebrate the story of our liberation from the wicked Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes. Boaz introduces readers to the festival.

Update

Learn about new resources and highlights.

The Ingathering of Israel

Do you have a mental picture of what it will be like when the Messiah returns to the earth for his second coming? Do you picture him riding on a white horse through the clouds? Read this synopsis from episode 7 of the FFOZ TV show, A Promise of What is to Come.

Woman Caught in Adultery

A story about the "end of the law." Most readers of the Gospels are familiar with the story of the woman caught in adultery and how Yeshua exonerated her. A closer look at the story reveals that it does not imply the grace-versus-law agenda that interpreters so often see in it. Read the story in its historical context.

Cornelius, the God-Fearer of Caesarea

Not all the Gentiles of Caesarea despised their Jewish neighbors. Learn what the Scriptures record about Cornelius, a Gentile, a centurion, and how he was attracted to the God of Israel and became a quintessential God-fearer.

God’s Faithfulness and Our Children

Hanukkah is a time for us to consider the mighty works of God on behalf of the Jewish people and to become inspired to grow in our reverence of his miracles in our own lives. It is a time for us to think about what it means to be a light in the face of darkness, how important it is to have “oil” in our spiritual lamps, and what it means to be dedicated to a life of godliness and personal growth.

Five Reasons

Why would anyone celebrate Hanukkah. Here are five reasons why this festival is not only relevant to Jews, but to all believers.

A Fight We Cannot Afford to Lose

A personal essay from K.J. Kruger on her understanding and experiences about Hanukkah.

Difficult Sayings of Yeshua

Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather. —Matthew 24:28

After Yeshua described the Temple’s destruction and the end of the age, he made a cryptic comment. There is more to this comment than most people understand.

The Siege of Jerusalem

Part 2 — England, 1947, and the rise of anti-semitism. Read the second part in this series from Pauline Rose's eyewitness account of events in Jerusalem during 1948. Pauline's first-hand accounts, her eyewitness testimony, diary notes, and letters of correspondence written in Jerusalem between 1946 and 1949 have been published in her book Siege of Jerusalem, which we now proudly present here.

Resource Review: Light

A short review of the book, Light (Rededication, Miracles, Enlightenment, Celebration), all about Hanukkah.

Law and/or Grace

Is it really one or the other? Outside of seminaries and other high-level academic settings, the contrast between law and grace is usually portrayed very simply: law old, grace new; law bad, grace good. In this section of New Testament Backgrounds, Jacob Fronczak challenges this simplistic approach.

Disciple Detectives

Kids, have fun while you discover treasures from the Bible in stories, solving mysteries and playing word games!

Dear Avi

Answering your everyday Messianic questions. In this issue we answer a question about the Shmitah year in the land of Israel. You must have read about it somewhere in the Bible—and yes, it's still honored in Israel.

Boaz sends a prayer and yearning for peace in the Holy Land during this terrible time of strife, yelling, fighting, demonstrations, and yes, now even war. Mourn with us; seek the favor of the Lord with us; unite with Israel and entreat HaShem to restore peace to the City of Peace. Then the whole world will see "Shalom from Jerusalem."

Update

Learn about updates on resources, and upcoming seminars.

Exile and Redemption

What is the redemption that Messiah brings? What are we redeemed from? Messiah came to redeem Israel, the Jewish people, from exile. Redemption in Hebrew is buying back, reacquiring, and setting things right again. Jesus is the prophet like Moses in that Moses was the first redeemer and Yeshua is the ultimate redeemer.

Prophecy of Jerusalem's Fall

While teaching in the Temple courts, our Master Yeshua uttered a prophecy of doom over his generation. The Word of the LORD spoke through him, declaring punishment upon the generation for "the guilt of all the righteous blood ... from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah" (Matthew 23:35).

Those Who Mourn

Remembering Jerusalem: The goal of fasting on days of mourning is to focus our energies on prayer. As we deny ourselves certain pleasures, our spiritual yearning for our Creator is increased.

O Jerusalem!

How to mourn, and remember the desctruction of Jerusalem on the 9th of Av. Some created thoughts shared by Te'ena Benhaim.

The Fall of Jerusalem

A narrative reading for the Ninth of Av: The gripping account of the destruction of Jerusalem, written by D. Thomas Lancaster.

Difficult Sayings of Yeshua: "Why Have You Forsaken Me?"

In the moments before Yeshua's agonizing death, he gasped and cried out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Was Yeshua really forsaken by God? It seems as though Yeshua would have been expecting a rescue that never came.

Wandering in the Desert

Beauty and promises in the Negev. In this "Land of Israel" section, Shayna Michael writes about how the Negev desert holds thousands of secrets from Israel's past.

The Siege of Jerusalem

Part 1 – A Land of Contrasts and Spirit. Read the first chapter in Pauline Rose's eyewitness account of events in Jerusalem during 1948. Pauline's first-hand accounts, her eyewitness testimony, diary notes, and letters of correspondence written in Jerusalem between 1946 and 1949 have been published in her book Siege of Jerusalem, which we now proudly present here.

The Worst Sin

Much has been written concerning all the calamities that have befallen the Jewish people on this day in history, the Ninth of Av, on which our Temple was destroyed–not only once but twice! The ancient Jewish sages teach that all these perils were a result of one sin: that of baseless hatred between brothers.

Resource Review: Elementary Principles

A short review of the new book, Elementary Principles: Six Foundational Principles of Ancient Jewish Christianity.

Way to Go

In this section of New Testament Backgrounds, Jacob Fronczak shares, from personal experience, how he learned to follow in the Master's footsteps, even though his life-circumstances are totally different than Yeshua's were. Learn about the Jewish concept of halachah, the Jewish way of defining a godly life.

Disciple Detectives

Kids, have fun while you discover treasures from the Bible in stories, solving mysteries and playing word games!

Dear Avi

Answering your everyday Messianic questions. In this issue we answer a question about the placing little stone on Jewish gravesites. What is this custom about?

Boaz shares some small nuggets of a prayer from Rabbi Yechiel Tzvi Lichtenstein. He was a well-known and prestigious rabbi who miraculously came to faith and lived out his life as an impassioned and devoted disciple of Yeshua.

Update

Learn about updates on resources, and upcoming seminars.

Son of David

The title of the Master that points to the past as well as the future. The New Testament gives Jesus many different names. He is called the Nazarene, the Beloved Son, the Messiah, the Horn of Salvation, the Righteous One, the Firstborn, Immanuel, and the Word–to name a few. One of the titles that we frequently see is "Son of David."

Entourage

Rabbi Yeshua and the first six disciples in John chapter 1. Take a journey as D. Thomas Lancaster vividly describes the story of how Yeshua called his first disciples. Walk with the Master from the time of his immersion by John and discover new insights into his life in its historical and Jewish context.

Difficult Sayings of Yeshua: "Shake off the dust..."

"If anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town." –Matthew 10:14. Some commentators claim that "shaking the dust off one's feet" was something that the ancient Pharisees used to do to express their disassociation with Gentiles. Is there more to this saying that meets the eye?

Before the Church Was Called the Church

Long before the church was called the church, it consisted of an assembly of Jewish believers who practiced Judaism as part of their devotion to Yeshua of Nazareth. In the days that followed the spiritual outpouring of Shavu'ot, the disciples found themselves shepherding a large community of new disciples in Jerusalem. Learn about their daily customs and how their faith was an essential part of Judaism.

Standing Still

At Home in Israel

Reflections on Israel's independence. This Independence Day, 2014, Israel will celebrate sixty-six years of statehood. Extraordinary, really, that after two thousand years, Jews have come home and live in a reunited Jerusalem.

Jerusalem of Gold

A modern metropolis with a heavenly counterpart. Discover the wonder and beauty of Jerusalem – a city that really makes a deep impression. Jerusalem is a place of meeting. Here in this city heaven meets earth; the past and the present meet with the future.

From Passover to Pentecost

The time between these two festivals is marked by the daily Counting of the Omer–a recollection of our spiritual journey. Our journeys are full of purpose and design. And, like all travelers, we make constant choices to move ahead, stand still, drift, or fall backward. This piece looks into how these fifty days help us excel in being intentional about our spiritual growth.

Resource Review: Remembrance and Repentance

Every year in Israel, Yom HaShoah ("Holocaust Memorial Day") falls a couple of weeks after Passover. It takes place just days before two other nationalistic holidays in Israel, Independence Day and Memorial Day, as if Israel should not have the right to celebrate her statehood without first mourning the loss of her ancestors. This book is about a call to remember and memorialize the Holocaust.

King Jesus

In this article, in the section New Testament Backgrounds, Jacob Fronczak challenges the approach we take as believers, of our relationship with Jesus. Do we have to accept Jesus as Lord and actually pledge to obey him in order to be saved? Or can we just accept Jesus as Savior and "be" saved regardless of our intentions to obey?

Disciple Detectives

Kids, have fun while you discover treasures from the Bible in stories, solving mysteries and playing word games!

Dear Avi

Answering your everyday Messianic questions. In this issue we answer a question about the 'Upper room', and how so many disciples could fit into it.

A message of faith for 2014. We must be people of faith. Not in the type of "faith" that many of us have learned, but rather the real, biblical faith that James describes in James 2.

Update

Learn about updates on resources, and upcoming seminars.

Jewish Prophecies

Why does Israel figure so prominently in world news? The modern state is not just an example of democracy in the Middle East or a demonstration of the fortitude of the Jewish people, it is a fulfillment of the word of the LORD–a "First Fruits of Zion," you might say.

The Baptism of Yeshua

Before calling his first disciple, before beginning to teach, and before performing even a single miracle, Jesus underwent an immersion in the Jordan River. The well-known story of the baptism of Jesus raises several questions.

Difficult Sayings of Yeshua: "Turn the Other Cheek"

Is it a godly thing not to resist one who is evil? Biblical heroes are known for standing up against evil and vanquishing it. Should David have "turned the other cheek" to Goliath? Should Moses have chosen not to resist Pharaoh? Should Queen Esther have refrained from defending her people against Haman?

Lydia: God-Fearer and Patroness

A wealthy Gentile Woman becomes a disciple. Behind every great minister of God's word are the un-sung heroes and heroines who make the ministry possible through their financial contributions. They share in the work of the ministry and, because their gifts make it possible, they also reap a portion of the reward for the work.

Planted on the Mountains of Israel

A Tu Bishvat Story. Unless you have visited Israel, you may not be aware of the nation's vastly diverse landscape. Based on the ancient day for offering field and fruit tithes in the Temple, Tu Bishvat (or the fifteenth day of the Hebrew month Shevat) has been reaffirmed in the modern State of Israel as a special "tree holiday." Tikvah Michael tells her story of what happened one year on Tu Bishvat.

Son of Man

Digging down to find the real Jesus. Jacob Fronczak relates from personal experience that unless one digs down to learn more about Jesus through Jewish literature, life, culture, and language, one might never understand certain aspects of Yeshua's life.

The Mosaic Revelation

A covenant between God and Israel. Daniel Juster discusses how the covenant documents contained in Exodus through Deuteronomy provide Israel with a national constitution under God, a treaty between God and the nation that forms the basis for Israel's morality and social-legal system as well as its system of worship, priesthood, and sacrifice.

Psalm 2

Good news in a world of bad news: A word of encouragement for those of us who live in a world that has largely sought to shake off the "shackles" of submission to God

Resource Review: PLANT and BLOOM

One way for us to enhance our connection with the Jewish people or establish a direct connection with the land of Israel is to recognize (or even to celebrate!) the traditional holiday of Tu Bishvat. Learn more about these resources.

The Two Ways

Spiritual Lessons from the Didache. Toby Janicki provides commentary on the Didache's first two verses and explores what this ancient Christian writing can teach us about living for the Messiah.

Disciple Detectives

Kids, have fun while you discover treasures from the Bible in stories, solving mysteries and playing word games!

Dear Avi

Answering your everyday Messianic questions. In this issue we answer a question from a pastor about the Jewishness of Jesus, and God's end-time plan involving the Jewish people today.

Do you find it difficult to share the Gospel message. Boaz Michael shares his vision to communicate the message in a fresh new way, and with a passion for God and the kingdom.

Update

Learn about new books and resources recently added to our Store.

Call His Name Yeshua

In this synopsis from one of the episodes of the FFOZ TV show, Toby Janicki examines the name of Jesus and why it is important to understand the meaning of the name he was given.

Fishers of Men

In this "Chronicles of the Messiah" section, D. Thomas Lancaster takes readers on a historic journey of Yeshua calling disciples to following him, and in particular, the sons of Jonah and the sons of Zebedee in the Gospels, and their motivation and courage of leaving everything behind for the Master.

Difficult Sayings of Yeshua: "I have not come to bring peace"

In Matthew 10:34 Yeshua makes this surprising and troubling statement. In this article by Aaron Eby, learn why, and in which context Yeshua made this statement.

John and the Bandit

In this "Chronicles of the Apostles" series, D. Thomas Lancaster uncovers a great story of true repentance by looking deeper into the history and development of the apostolic communities through the writing from early church tradition.

Jesus Salesmen

Do you find it difficult to tell others about your faith? You're not alone. Learn how to effectively share your faith. The message of salvation through Jesus is designed to be understood as part of the entire story of Jesus' life; this story in turn makes little sense without the larger context of the story of Israel.

Replacing Replacement

Against all odds, Israel has been reestablished! According to replacement theology, since it states that Israel is no longer God's son, the nation of Israel no longer has an inheritance from the Father, nor are the Jews to be recipients of the biblical promise regarding the land of Israel. Elhanan ben-Avraham passionately defends the Jewish people against replacement theology.

The Call of Abraham

Jewish history began with Abraham. Although the term "Jew" was derived from the tribe of Judah, God's covenant with Israel begins with Abraham, so in a broad sense we might say that Abraham was the first Jew. Dr. Dan Juster explains how the nation of Israel has an everlasting inheritance through Abraham.

Shlichim: Go and Preach the Gospel

Building the kindom of heaven through discipleship. Just as all of us are believers because someone took the time to present the good news of the kingdom to us, so we must carry that message forward and influence others to return to God in repentance and faith.

Israel, Light for the Nations

Christians often speak about Jesus being the "redeemer." Jews also believe in a biblical concept called "redemption," and that the Messiah's job is to be a "redeemer"–but it means something very different in a Jewish context. Aaron Eby uncovers the real meaning of "redemption" from the words of the prophets, and in a Jewish context.

Resource Review: What About Evangelism?

If there is one responsibility Christians tend to avoid more than any other, it is evangelism. And who can blame them? It is difficult to talk about such subjects as faith and religion with others. Learn how to make disciples and not just converts from this Audio Lecture.

What is a Disciple?

Have you ever wondered what it really means to be a disciple? It may surprise you to find out that long before the days of the Master, discipleship was already a well-established institution within Jewish culture. This excerpt from the HaYesod program elaborates on discipleship.

Disciple Detectives

Kids, have fun while you discover treasures from the Bible in stories, solving mysteries and playing word games!

Dear Avi

Answering your everyday Messianic questions. In this issue we answer the question of whether Jesus abolised the dietary laws given to the Jewish people.

Boaz Michael shares briefly why Passover is such a pivotal event for all believers, and that there are three great Passovers that has and is shaping our faith. The value of Passover transcends mere ritual and symbolism.

Update

Updates on the latest resources published by First Fruits of Zion, and upcoming events.

Jesus, Anointed One

In this synopsis from one of the episodes of the FFOZ TV show, Toby Janicki examines Yeshua's title, "Messiah," and why it is important to understand the background of this title as it is one of the most important concepts in the entire Bible.

The Last Seder

In a Jewish reading of the texts from the gospels, D. Thomas Lancaster takes readers through the last Passover meal that Yeshua celebrated with his disciples, touching on all the elements present in the Passover seder.

Difficult Sayings of Yeshua: "This is my blood"

Blood is a major theme in the Passover story, the exodus from Egypt. When Yeshua lifted the cup at his final seder with us, he latched onto this Passover blood motif. What was he really saying?

The Passover Arrests

Fourteen years after Jesus' death and resurrection during the festival of Passover, the apostolic community in Jerusalem experienced another dramatic and miraculous series of events.

From Passover to Easter

Both these festivals are in the spring, but what else do they have in common? Jacob Fronczak highlights various interesting facts about the two holidays, their shared history, and also the elements that keep them separate.

Following the Nazarene

In Modern Hebrew, the way to say "Christian" is not "Messianic", but rather, "Nazarene." Jordan Levy expands on some interesting aspects of what it means to be a "Christian", in life, and in linguistics.

The Two Greatest Passovers

Passover is a joyful time, a time of eating the traditional Passover meal with family and friends and recounting the famed story from the book of Exodus, when God lead the Israelites out from slavery in Egypt. Learn how to personally identify with the Passover story.

Shlichim: Hosting a Passover Seder

The seder must be experienced to be truly appreciated. The seder is a carefully crafted meal that can bring a taste of the memories of the ancient Passover rite alive, and that can be hosted by anyone.

Israel, Light for the Nations

Christians often speak about Jesus being the "redeemer." Jews also believe in a biblical concept called "redemption," and that the Messiah's job is to be a "redeemer"–but it means something very different in a Jewish context. Aaron Eby uncovers the real meaning of "redemption" from the words of the prophets, and in a Jewish context.

Resource Review: Passover Encounter

In order to make the seder more accessible to Christians who want to experience a new connection with the life of Jesus and his passion week, First Fruits of Zion has produced a haggadah called Passover Encounter.

Passover, Salvation, and the Torah

Exploring the Jewish Foundation of Christianity, the HaYesod discipleship program, with a focus on Passover.

Disciple Detectives

Kids, have fun while you discover treasures from the Bible in stories, solving mysteries and playing word games!

Dear Avi

Answering your everyday Messianic questions. In this issue we answer the question of why we make distinctions between Jews and Gentiles in our publications.

Boaz Michael briefly addresses the importance of relating to the Jewishness of Jesus, and how this understanding is foundational to our relationship with God.

Update

Updates on the latest resources published by First Fruits of Zion, and upcoming events.

The “Good News”

Understanding the Gospel in its original context. A synopsis of an upcoming episode of the new First Fruits of Zion television show: A Promise of What Is to Come.

The Birth of the King

A Jewish reading of a well-loved story from the gospels. Discover more depth in the story of Yeshua's birth when we read it in a Jewish context.

Difficult Sayings of Yeshua: You Are Gods

In the Gospel of John, Yeshua defended himself against a blasphemy charge by appealing to an obscure Jewish interpretation of Psalm 82.

Rome and the Abomination of Desolation

Learn from D. Thomas Lancaster how Caligula, one of the Roman emporors, almost fulfilled the apocalyptic prophecies of Daniel.

Chanukkah and Non-Jews

What exactly is Chanukkah? Learn more about this Jewish holiday and how non-Jews can relate and even participate in it in a meaningful way.

Hebrew Insights: Winter in Jerusalem

Sometimes the shortest verses in the Bible can be some of the most illuminating and perhaps even the most powerful. Jordan Levy expands on John 10:22.

The Story of Chanukkah

The eight-day festival of Chanukkah begins each year on the twenty-fifth day of the biblical month of Kislev. Learn about the amazing background to this story of war, bravery, persecution, miracles, dedication, and enlightenment.

Shlichim: “Pagan” Festivals?

Chanukkah isn't the only winter holiday relevant to the Messianic world. What about Christmas. While it is important to refrain from desecrating God’s name by imitating the worship of false gods, it is also important to maintain a healthy and positive relationship with one’s family.

Resource Review: The Concealed Light

A review of a great new book published by Vine of David, exploring the names of Messiah in Jewish Sources.

Revelation and the Bible

Exploring the Jewish Foundation of Christianity, an extract from the first lesson of the HaYesod discipleship program.

Disciple Detectives

Kids, have some fun while you discover the 'mysterious festival' by looking up clues in the Bible and playing word games!

Dear Avi

Answering your everyday Messianic questions. In this answer we explore the difficult verse in John 1:17.

Every time the Torah is read in our Sabbath assemblies, it is a rehearsal for that future time when we will all be gathered into Jerusalem to hear the Torah read by the gracious lips of King Messiah himself.

The Last Mitzvah

The Torah commands the transcription of the scroll. Let's consider the mystical aspects of this mitzvah.

The Anatomy of a Torah Scroll

Tradition has maintained a careful process in which a Torah scroll is made, treated and revered. In many cases they have preserved the Torah itself.

The Torah Reading Service

Is the public reading of the Torah in Hebrew a boring and needless tradition or the centerpiece of the Sabbath worship service?

The Public Reading of the Torah

A survey of the Bible and other ancient historical documents can help us surmise key elements about the public reading of the Torah in the synagogues in which Yeshua and His disciples gathered.

Insights into the Words of Torah

The garden of the Torah is before you; it is a desirable garden, the Garden of Eden, the Garden of the Lord.

Daughters of Zion, Go and See!

Making Torah study a staple in our homes and around our tables. Let us "go and see" what the words of Torah say to us.

Burning the Sacred Scrolls

Traditional Judaism considers it a mitzvah to rescue a Scroll from a fire. But what if the Scroll was written by a believer in Yeshua?

A Torah Stolen

Read the story of a Messianic congregation in the Northwest that had its Scroll stolen and the resulting testimony it brought to the Messianic community.

Other Jots and Tittles

The Master says that not a single jot or tittle of the Torah will pass away–but there may be far more discrepancies between the jots and tittles of various Torah manuscripts than you realize.

After His immersion and forty days of fasting in the wilderness, Yeshua faced three messianic temptations. Find out how His duel with the devil draws on traditional Jewish literature and the high holiday themes.

Build a Kosher Sukkah

Let FFOZ teach you about what has developed into both a science and an art form
in traditional Judaism.

Medicine for the Soul

The Feast of Trumpets and the Day of Atonement hinge on repentance, prayer and righteousness. The Divine Physician prescribes all three for our healing.

Testimony to Israel

Nineteenth century Jewish believer Theophilus Lucky muses over the significance of the forty days of repentance which conclude with the Day of Atonement.

Yom Kippur, Fasting with Intention

Not all of the biblical festivals are "feast" days. Learn the physical and spiritual implications of the great fast of the Day of Atonement.

Prayer Liturgy of the High Holy Days

Messianic Cantor Aaron Eby provides us with a road map to the secret of the high holidays contained in the prayer liturgies of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Yeshua and the Adulteress

John's story of the woman caught in adultery is set during the Feast of Booths in Jerusalem. Revisit the story with Toby Janicki to discover how the Master exonerated the guilty.

Contrasts

What happens when missionaries to modern Greece and modern Greek culture discover their Hebrew Roots?

The Land of the Shadow of Death

Biblical Geographer Steven Lancaster introduces us to the Galilee, crossroads of nations and empires, from which the great light came forth.

Who were the twelve disciples? D. Thomas Lancaster introduces us to each of Yeshua's twelve disciples, investigates their names and nicknames and speculates about their relationships to one another and the Master.

Is the New Testament Reliable?

How do we know the Church Fathers who canonized the New Testament can be trusted? Boaz Michael answers questions about the reliability of the Apostolic Scriptures.

The Teacher and the Pupil

Aaron Eby discusses the institution of discipleship from a first-century Jewish perspective.

My Big Fat Greek Mindset

In part 2 of his contrast between a Greek world-view and a Hebraic world-view, Tim Hegg challenges us to adopt a more biblical way of approaching theology.

Talmidot Shel Yeshua

Did you know women were reckoned among the disciples of Yeshua? Tikvah Michael looks at Yeshua's call to discipleship and its implications for women.

A Purim Allegory

In Judaism, the story of Esther is often read allegorically to reveal precious truths about our relationship to God.

D. Thomas Lancaster provides a stunning and invigorating challenge to traditional interpretations on the second coming of Messiah and the "Rapture." Are you sure you don't want to be "Left Behind?"

Baptism: A Jewish Ritual

Take a look at the historical origins of Baptism, the biblical language behind the concept and the reasons for modern-day application of this ritual.

My Big Fat Greek Mindset

Do you know how your viewpoint of God, His Word and spiritual life is handicapped by a Greek mindset? We must become aware of our past training and how we can adapt a more Hebraic way of thinking.

Shining Lights...

Hanukkah is just around the corner! Enjoy a quick read in this holiday overview, and learn how we can apply its themes to our lives today.

Modesty

The last in a three-part series on the subject of Modesty, Tikvah Michael discusses practical applications for modesty in today's congregations and Torah homes.

Who is My Neighbor?

Yeshua's answer to the question, "Which is the greatest commandment" provide the motivation we all need to treat others the way that we desire to be treated...a weightier matter of Torah observance that we easily overlook.

Sabbath-Keepers of Transylvania

If you think the emergence of Torah communities is new to 2006, think again! Historical evidence documents a group of Torah followers in sixteenth-century Transylvania.

Hezekiah's Tunnel

A fascinating study on the water systems of ancient Jerusalem and how these waterways affected the tactical security of the city.

PLUS...

The Director's letter discussing the publishing goals of Messiah Magazine, and Dear Avi's answer about when Shabbat really starts.